Experiment: Growing germs in water, Part 1-- Prepare to Grow Some Germs

Objective
Have students see the reality of germs in their untreated source water and the value of water treatment.

Time
15 minutes

What You Need

 * xx20g salt per water source
 * xx100g sugar per water source


 * maybe some chicken or beef stock?xx
 * One half to one liter of water from as many sources that people around here use that are convenient (You need larger water samples if demonstrating more technologies.)
 * Water treatment technologies you will be promoting:


 * Chlorine
 * A water filter
 * A way to boil water
 * Etc.
 * Several sealed containers or clear plastic bags
 * A way to label each container or bag

Preparation
 Put untreated water from each source in a bag labeled with the name of the source and “Untreated” (For example: “Smith’s Pond, Untreated”).

Activity

 * Have the students observe or help you treat some of the water from each source.


 * If you are promoting multiple treatment methods, use each treatment on water from each source
 * Put treated water from each source in a bag labeled with the name of the source, and treatment (for example, “River water, boiled” or “Tap water, filtered”)
 * <p style="margin-bottom:0in">Add 5 g. of sugar and a pinch of salt to each bag.

Discussion
<p style="margin-bottom:0in;"> Ask the students what they anticipate will happen to each bag.

Key Words
Experiment, Prevention, Diarrhea, Germs, Water